Parker was tried twice in federal court for the February 2015 takedown of Sureshbhai Patel on a Madison sidewalk. Both proceedings ending in mistrials. The judge acquitted him of an excessive force charge.

“After a careful review of the witness testimony included in 2,000 pages of federal trial transcripts and a re-evaluation of the evidence, we are seeking to dismiss State charges against Mr. Parker,” said Attorney General Strange.

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“Without a doubt this is an unfortunate case and we agree with U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala that ‘The result in this case is by no means satisfying. Hindsight brings clarity to a calamity…’.

“Nevertheless, the State has been monitoring the federal court proceedings since last September which resulted in two federal mistrials of Mr. Parker and his acquittal by a federal judge. While the State charge has a lesser kind of culpability than that of the federal charge, the evidence is the same and the State’s burden remains proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“After a review of the federal trial testimony, it does not appear that there would be sufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, we have a duty to move to dismiss the charge.”